Does rainbow trout justify its high rank among alien invasive species? Insights from a nationwide survey in Greece

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Factors associated with the occurrence of epistaxis in natural canine leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum)

BACKGROUND: Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a common cause of epistaxis in dogs residing in endemic areas. The pathogenesis of CanL-associated epistaxis has not been fully explored because of the limited number of cases reported so far. HYPOTHESIS: Epistaxis in CanL could be attributed to more than 1 pathomechanism such as hemostatic dysfunction, biochemical abnormalities, chronic rhinitis, and coinfections occurring in various combinations. ANIMALS: Fifty-one dogs with natural CanL. METHODS: The allocation of 51 dogs in this cross-sectional study was based on the presence (n = 24) or absence (n = 27) of epistaxis. The potential associations among epistaxis and concurrent infections (Ehrlichia canis, Bartonella spp., and Aspergillus spp.), biochemical and hemostatic abnormalities, and nasal histopathology were investigated. RESULTS: Hypergammaglobulinemia (P= .044), increased serum viscosity (P= .038), decreased platelet aggregation response to collagen (P= .042), and nasal mucosa ulceration (P= .039) were more common in the dogs with epistaxis than in those without epistaxis. The other significant differences between the 2 groups involved total serum protein (P= .029) and gamma-globulin (P= .013) concentrations, which were higher, and the percentage platelet aggregation to collagen, which was lower (P= .012) in the epistaxis dogs. CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: CanL-associated epistaxis appears to be the result of multiple and variable pathogenetic factors such as thrombocytopathy, hyperglobulinemia-induced serum hyperviscosity, and nasal mucosa ulceration.     

A retrospective study of 61 cases of spontaneous canine epistaxis (1998 to 2001)

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and identify possible clinicopathologic indicators of the diseases associated with canine epistaxis. METHODS: The medical records of 61 dogs with epistaxis were reviewed. RESULTS: Systemic diseases, diagnosed in fifty-six dogs, included canine leishmaniasis in twenty-three dogs, canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in twenty-two, concurrent canine leishmaniasis and canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in six, rodenticide toxicity in two and primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, suspected oestrogen toxicity and systemic arterial hypertension in one dog each. Intranasal diseases were documented in the remaining five dogs, including transmissible venereal tumour in three dogs, and nasal adenocarcinoma and nasal aspergillosis in one dog each. Mucosal pallor and a generalised bleeding tendency were significantly more common among dogs with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis compared with those with canine leishmaniasis, whereas the opposite was true for peripheral lymphadenomegaly. Also, dogs with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis presented with pancytopenia more frequently compared with those with canine leishmaniasis; in the latter dogs, the median values of haematocrit, leucocyte and platelet counts and serum total protein concentrations were higher. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Canine leishmaniasis and canine monocytic ehrlichiosis are the leading causes of canine epistaxis in Greece. Mucosal pallor, bleeding tendency and pancytopenia are more likely to be indicative of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, as opposed to peripheral lymphadenomegaly and hyperproteinaemia in canine leishmaniasis.     

Recovery of Salmonella enterica from seropositive finishing pig herds

The aim of this study was to assess the probability of detecting Salmonella from pen faecal samples in seropositive classified finishing pig herds. The study involved 77 herds from Denmark (20), The Netherlands (20), Greece (17) and Germany (20). The serological herd status was determined by the blood-sampling of 50 finishing pigs. Bacteriological sampling was performed by 20 pen faecal samples per herd. Over-all, 47% of the blood samples had an OD% larger than 10 and 23% larger than 40. Salmonella was isolated from 135 (9.3%) pen faecal samples in 32 herds (42%). Twenty-eight of these herds (87.5%) had a within-herd seroprevalence larger than 50% at sample cut-off OD% > 10. In our study, there was an increasing probability of recovering Salmonella with increasing within-herd seroprevalence. However, this was only a moderate correlation. A correlation coefficient of 0.62 was found between the proportion of culture positive- and seropositive samples in a herd at cut-off OD%> 10 and of 0.58 at cut-off OD% > 40. Serology is a measure of historical exposure, which may or may not correlate closely to the microbiological burden at the time of sampling. Due to the low sensitivity of culture methods, apparent 'false-positive' serological results may well represent real infections not detected by bacteriological testing. For screening purposes, serological testing provides an indication of exposure to Salmonella, which forms the basis for targeted sampling, intervention and logistic slaughter procedures.     

Clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with clinical spirocercosis: 39 cases (1996-2004)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring clinical spirocercosis. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 39 dogs with spirocercosis. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed, and information on signalment, residence (rural vs urban), owner complaints, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic abnormalities, radiographic and endoscopic findings, and concurrent systemic diseases was recorded. RESULTS: Hellenic hounds and mixed-breed dogs were overrepresented, compared with a group of 117 control dogs without spirocercosis that were examined because of gastrointestinal tract disease, and mean body weight of dogs with spirocercosis was significantly higher than mean body weight of control dogs. Odynophagia (34 [87%]), regurgitation (24 [62%]), and excessive salivation (14 [36%]) were the most common clinical findings. The most common radiographic abnormalities were a mass in the caudodorsal aspect of the mediastinum (15/35 [43%]) and spondylitis of the caudal thoracic vertebrae (10 [29%]). Parasitic nodules were seen during esophagoscopy in all 39 dogs. Normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia; neutrophilic leukocytosis; hyperproteinemia; and high alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly more common in dogs with spirocercosis than in a control group of 56 healthy dogs. Concurrent systemic diseases, mainly leishmaniosis, dirofilariosis, and monocytic ehrlichiosis, were documented in 14 (36%) dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that clinical spirocercosis occurs more often in young-adult, large-breed dogs. Nonregenerative anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, and high alkaline phosphatase activity may be useful clinicopathologic indicators of this disease.     

Evaluation of a serum-based PCR assay for the diagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis

The aim of this study was to estimate the relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in the serum of dogs with naturally occurring non-myelosuppressive canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), and to investigate the association between PCR positivity and immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) titres for Ehrlichia canis. Serum samples obtained from 38 dogs with non-myelosuppressive CME and 12 healthy dogs were analyzed retrospectively. Each serum sample was analyzed in triplicate using an E. canis-specific nested PCR assay targeting a 389 bp sequence of the 16S rRNA gene. E. canis DNA was amplified in 24 of 38 (63.1%) affected dogs; all samples from healthy dogs were negative. A high level of agreement was found among the PCR replicates (P < 0.0001). Median IFA titre of the 24 PCR-positive dogs was significantly lower than that of the PCR-negative infected dogs (P = 0.0029), indicating that E. canis DNA may circulate prior to the development of a high antibody titre. Serum-based PCR analysis is suggested for the early diagnosis of CME when whole blood samples are not available.     

Sensitization to dust mites in cats with Otodectes cynotis infestation

Sensitization to the dust mites was demonstrated by an intradermal (ID) skin test in 33 of 55 cats with Otodectes cynotis infestation. Positive ID test reactions to Dermatophagoides farinae were noticed in 32 (58.2%), to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in 29 (52.7%) and to Acarus siro in seven (12.7%) cats. The presence ( P  = 0.03) and duration ( P  = 0.04) of pruritus were positively associated with the ID test results. All the cats had a complete response to systemic ivermectin therapy, although three of them became reinfested as soon as they were in contact with other cats. The ID test was negative in 25 cats that had reacted positive previously, when the test was repeated 3–6 months after the acaricidal treatment. During that time there was no evidence of concurrent ectoparasitic infestation. The remaining eight cats were re-infested by O. cynotis or lost to follow-up.     

Stress assessment,quality indicators and shelf life of three aquaculture important marine fish,in relation to harvest practices,water temperature and slaughter method

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of harvest practices and slaughter method on stress, quality and shelf life of whole fish (gilthead sea bream, European sea bass and red sea bream) towards the development of a humane slaughter practice. The use of hook and line resulted in significantly lower plasma cortisol and glucose in European sea bass and gilthead sea bream. Water temperature at harvest affected significantly the concentrations of stress indicators (plasma cortisol and glucose), mainly in European sea bass and gilthead sea bream. No significant differences were observed between the harvesting methods, regarding fish appearance, microbial spoilage and sensory scoring and subsequently shelf life. However, significantly lower hardness was recorded in fish harvested using the electric stunner, compared to the fish killed with slurry ice of the same harvesting period. Shelf life ranged between 13–18 days for gilthead seabream, 10–16 days for European sea bass and 10–14 days for red sea bream, depending on harvesting period.     

Bayesian estimation of sensitivity and specificity of serum ELISA and faecal culture for diagnosis of paratuberculosis in Greek dairy sheep and goats

Latent class models were used to estimate the sensitivity (Se) and the specificity (Sp) of a serum ELISA and a faecal culture (FC) method for the diagnosis of paratuberculosis separately, in sheep and goats. The estimates were obtained by a Bayesian method. Possible dependence of diagnostic errors was investigated by comparing models where independence was assumed to models allowing for conditional dependence given the true disease status. ROC analysis for the serum ELISA was also performed and optimized cut-off values based on the misclassification cost term were determined. No evidence of conditional dependence was found. Assuming independence, posterior medians and 95% credible intervals for the Se(ELISA), Sp(ELISA), Se(FC) and Sp(FC), were 63% (42, 93%), 95% (90, 98%), 8% (2, 17%) and 98% (95, 100%) in goats and 37% (10, 80%), 97% (93, 99%), 16% (2, 48%) and 97% (95, 99%) in sheep. AUC was calculated 0.702 for sheep and 0.847 for goats. For the serum ELISA, there is need of species- and purpose-specific cut-off selection. For instance, with 20% prevalence situation and assuming equal and five-fold cost of a false negative to a false positive test result, the optimal cut-off is 0.3 and 0.05 in sheep, respectively, while it is 0.6 and 0.1 in goats, respectively. Serum ELISA performed better in goats than in sheep. Lowering the cut-off, in relation to the one recommended by the manufacturer, improved Se(ELISA) without seriously compromising Sp(ELISA), in either species.